Category Archives: News

BBM DIRECTOR DUNCAN BAKER-BROWN REVIEWS MAYOR OF LONDON’S NEW CIRCULAR ECONOMY DESIGN PRIMER

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Duncan Baker-Brown was interviewed by the Architect’s Journal for his opinion on the Mayor of London’s newly released Design for A Circular Economy Primer.

The guidance document, developed by industry experts, aims to help organisations in the built environment embed circular economy principles into their projects.

Duncan Baker-Brown thinks “The issues covered in the document are the correct ones. However, my concern is how is all of this interpreted by designers and builders, because I would say there is a lack of knowledge in the industry at the moment. Therefore it is good that it is a call for action and case studies.”

For more information on the industry reception of the Primer, read the full Architect’s Journal article at: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/london-plan-new-document-to-help-architects-embed-circular-economy-principles/10044807.article?blocktitle=News-features&contentID=13634

 

ARCHITECTS HAVE DECLARED, BUT WHAT DO WE DO NEXT?

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Duncan Baker-Brown writes for Riba Journal: an article on how architects and future architects may respond to the declaration of the climate crisis.

New buildings are already being designed as carbon neutral or negative entities. Architects should utilise their position as resource managers: moving away from raw materials to ‘mining the Anthropocene’ with the ability for future de-construction.

https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/sustainability-circular-economy-construction-reusing-recyling-duncan-baker-brown

For more information on BBM’s strategies look to our De/Construct Re/Construct Live Research Project:

https://bbm-architects.co.uk/portfolio/live-research-project/

BBM COMPLETES RURAL RESIDENTIAL EXTENSION

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Completion of extension in East Sussex

This residential extension, situated within the East Sussex countryside, was designed to sit sympathetically alongside the existing house. Whilst appreciating views over the surrounding landscape and South Downs beyond, the annexe also provides a third side to the dwellings entrance courtyard, greatly enhancing your arrival to the property.Extension East Sussex

DUNCAN IN LATEST PODCAST BY HOUSE PLANNING HELP ON WASTE REDUCTION AND MATERIAL REUSE

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Duncan Baker-Brown explains strategies for reducing waste and reusing materials in a podcast with House Planning Help:

https://www.houseplanninghelp.com/hph261-reducing-construction-waste-and-reusing-materials-with-duncan-baker-brown/

A notable feature is the BBM designed Waste House at the University of Brighton.

 

Around the same time as the waste house completion in 2014, BBM director Ian Mckay talked to House Planning Help about choosing a suitable building for an eco retrofit:

https://www.houseplanninghelp.com/hph047-choosing-a-suitable-property-to-eco-retrofit-with-ian-mckay-from-bbm-sustainable-design/

ARCHITECTURE PROFESSION FINALLY CATCHING UP TO BBM SUSTAINABLE DESIGN IN LATEST ARCHITECTS’ JOURNAL

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The AJ asked Duncan Baker-Brown for advice on this week’s journal. Duncan, who has been advocating for and designing with sustainable design principles for the last 25 years, was happy to suggest case studies and topics for the AJ.

Themes drawn out by Baker-Brown both in this issue of the AJ and in his work in practice include placing more value on materials through the use of material passports and designing building as material banks for the future, and designing buildings for delicate deconstruction rather than demolition.

Lendager Group’s Resource Rows in Copenhagen is one of the case studies featured in the journal, featuring repurposed materials in the facade. Another case study, Lacaton and Vassal’s refurbishment of three 1960s housing blocks in Bordeaux, follows the circular economy principles espoused by Duncan Baker-Brown. Instead of knocking the buildings down, the architects added winter gardens. These gardens reduced the energy use by 60% and opened the building up to light, air, and views.

Duncan strikes many positive notes in the journal, emphasising that architects are in a good position to effect environmental progress in the construction industry, because they oversee the design and detail of buildings.

Check out this week’s AJ here: https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk

Above Image: Material Passports https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/material-passports-finding-value-in-rubble/10043989.article?blocktitle=in-the-LATEST-ISSUE&contentID=18097

NEW BUILD BBM HOUSE IS CLIMATE CHANGE READY…

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July 25th 2019, the UK’s second hottest day ever:

With the train network unable to handle the heat, highly energy consuming air conditioning on full, a new build house by BBM was able to cope.

The new house is expected to be near enough cost neutral in heating through the winter months and has now shown itself to cope well with heatwave conditions in the summer.